Feed roll mechanism for saws



July 21, 1953 Filed Sept. 16, 1949 O. P. SMITH FEED ROLL MECHANISM FOR SAWS 4 Sheets-Sheet l Zmnentor O/asaN P, SM/TH Cittorneg July 21, 1953 o. P. SMITH FEED ROLL MECHANISM FOR SAWS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 16, 1949 Enventor Gem/v P. 5M1 TH @nfl (Ittorneg July 21, 1953 Filed Sept. 16, 1949 o. P. SMITH 2,646,088

FEED ROLL MECHANISM FOR SAWS 4 Sheets-Sheei 3 "3 n) 3nnentor ORJON P. 5M/ TH (Ittorneg July 21, 1953 o. P. SMITH FEED ROLL MECHANISM FOR SAWS 4 I Sheets-sheaf 4 unlit-7 1 E IVIMRQT HAN HE IA J U u xw.

f. Ill 1 l ll l llll unhuuunuul u l nufl Filed Sept. 16, 1949 250/9 P. SM/TH Gttorneg Patented July 21, 953

mesne assignments, to Smithway Machine 00., Inc., Seattle, Wash., a corporation of Washington Application September 16, 1949, Serial No. 115,969

- 2 Claims. (01. 143-55) This invention relates to power driven rip saws, and it has reference more particularly to provision of a self-feeding rip saw for the ripping of strips of wood or metal, and equipped for resawing both vertically and diagonally.

It'is the principal object of this invention to provide a ripping machine of the above stated character, wherein provision is made for the use of saws of various diameters, either singly or in gangs; that embodies a novel feeding mechanism that it easil and readily adjustable to adapt it to the feeding of strips of various thicknesses; that embodies therein a novel form of work guide, adjustable from position for vertical ripping to a position for diagonal ripping; that has drive "mechanisms that eliminate power losses due to slippage in driving the'feed works and'the saws.

'Still further objects of the invention reside in the details of construction of parts, in their combination, relationship and mode of use, as will hereinafter be fully described.

In accomplishing the above mentioned and other objects of the invention, I have provided the improved details of construction, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. l is a perspective view of a ripping machine embodying the improvements of the present invention therein and showing the work guide as set for diagonal ripping.

Fig. 2 is a top, or plan view of a portion of the machine, particularly illustrating the feed rolls.

Fig. 3 is afront elevation of the machine.

Fig. 4 is a top view of the special work guiding means that is adapted for straight and for diagonal ripping.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of the discharge end portion of the machine, parts being broken away for purpose of better illustration.

Fig. 6 is a plan View of a part of the base framestructure, showing the disposition therein of the saw unit mounting bracket.

Fig. 7 is a cross-section, taken on line I'! in Fig. 6, particularly illustrating the adjusting screw'for the saw unit mounting bracket.

I Fig. 8 is a top view of the work feed mechanism, including the feed rolls and their drive chains; certain parts being shown in section for better understanding.

Referring more in detail to the drawings- In its present preferred forms of construction, the machine of this invention comprises a cast metal frame or housing II) of substantial construction, supported at suitable working height by means of legs II. Mounted on the housing It, at its opposite ends and bolted or otherwise rigidly fixed thereto at the same horizontal level, are flatbed-plate sections I2 and I3 between ways 36 which contain therein the opposite vertiwhich the rip saw or saws are located, as presently will be explained.

As observed in Figs. 1 and 5, the two top sections I2 and I3 overhang the'forward wall and opposite ends of the housing Ill and the rip saw I4, which is of disc form, is mounted therebetween in a plane that is parallel to and somewhat forwardly of the forward wall of the housing, as seen in Figs. 5 and 6. Spanning the distance between the bed sections, I2 and I3, forwardly of the saw, is a removable bed filled plate I5 that rests at its opposite ends on shoulders I6 formedalong the adjacent edges of said bed sections. This plate is held-in place by clamp screws I] that are threaded upwardly through lugs I8 on the underside of the plate, and tightened against the undersides of the shoulders, as seen in Fig. 3. Rearwardly of the saw, a bed filler plate 20 is extended between and is fixed to the bed sections; I

this plate being best shown in Fig. 2.

The two bed sections I2 and I3, together with the bed filler plates I5 and 20, provide a flat, horizontal bed or table across which workmay be advanced to the saw or saws.

In plan view, the base housing I0 is of T-form in that it is formed at the back side with a rearward extension 25, as is best shown in Figs. 2 and 5. Supported upon and fixed rigidly to this extension, is a supporting arm 30 for the material feed mechanism. This arm comprises a hollow main body portion'3lla and a horizontal, forwardly extending portion 3000 which overhangs the space between the two bed sections I2 and I3, terminating just within the vertical plane of the forward wall of housing I0.

The saw I 4 is mounted on and is directly driven b the drive shaft 32 of an electric motor 33. The motor and saw are assembled as a unit and the unit is fixed upon a supporting bracket that is contained within the medial portion of housing I0 as will be understood best by reference to Figs. 6 and '7. The bracket is shown to comprise a horizontal plate 35 that is formed at its right hand edge with a vertical flange containing spaced, vertical and downwardly directed guide cal edge portions of a plate 31 that is bolted, or

otherwise fixedly secured to a cross wall 38 within the main housing Ill, as noted in Fig. 6; The manner of mounting this bracket is such that it may be vertically adjusted. The adjustment is accomplished by means of a hand wheel 40 that is fixed on the lower end of vertical adjusting screw 4|. It is shown in Fig. 7, that the screw shaft M is rotatably contained in a horizontal wall like that is formed as an integral part of the housing I0. A collar 42 is fixed on the shaft 4| to engage the top side of the wall Illa: to resist'downward movement of the shaft and the upper end portion of the shaft is threaded through 2. lug 44 formed in the bracket, thus, by a rotatable'adj'ustment of the hand wheel 36 in opposite directions, the bracket will be raised or lowered accordingly. When the bracket is in a desired position, it may be locked by tightening a clamp screw 45 thereagainst. The screw is in the form of an elongated rod threaded thru wall 38, as noted in Fig. 6, and it extends to the right hand end of the housing N where it is equipped with a hand wheel 46 whereby its adjustment can be readily made.

The manner of mounting the saw and motor unit will be best understood by reference to Figs. 2 and 5, wherein it is shown that the motor drive shaft 32 which comprises the saw arbor, extends through a tubular mounting member 48 of substantial length. This member, which I refer to as the motor quill is formed at its opposite ends with mounting legs as at 49 and that are bolted securely to the bracket plate 35. At one end the quill is bolted to the electric motor 33 thus, through the mediacy of the quill, the motor and saw unit is supported for vertical adjustment. By this vertical adjustment, the extent to which the saw or saws extend above the level of the bed may be established to best suit the pieces being ripped.

For the guiding of material across the bed plate to the saw I have provided a guide rail 5!,

as seen in Fig. i. This rail is of angle iron form and lies flatly upon the bed. It is rigidly secured at one end to a plate 52 that lies flatly upon the bed at its right hand end. Fixed on the underside of the plate 52 is a bar E i and this is slidably fitted in a square cut channel 55 that is formed across the bed at the end. The bar 54 is set to hold the guide rail parallel with the plane of the saw, and by shifting the plate 52 forwardly or rearwardly, the rail can be adjusted for the ripping of pieces of more or less width. A clamp bolt '58 is threaded through a downwardly depending edge portion 52' of the plate 52 for tightening against the end of the bed to secure any forward or rearward adjustment of the rail, this is shown in Fig. 3.

For diagonal ripping of material I employ the special work guide that is shown in Fig. 4. Ihis can be removably attached to the rail 5! as will now be described.

This special guide comprises a guide rail 53' similar to rail 5i and adapted to be disposed flatly uponthe bed, parallel to and in irontof rail 5%. Fixed horizontally to the back side of the rail 653, near the right hand end, as seen in Fig. i, is a sleeve 66 and extended coaxially through this is a rod $2. Mounted on this rod at the ends of the sleeve, are the outer ends of links 63-63 which, at their inner ends, are pivotally connected by means of bolts 6 to opposite ends of a bracket E55 that is secured to rail 5!, for adjustment therealcng, by means of yokes BE-Btat its opposite ends that overlie the flange by the rail and are secured thereto by clamp bolts 61. The rod 62 is equipped with a turning wheel -82 at its outer end, and is threaded at its inner end onto link 63 and has a collar 88 fixed thereon to seat against link -63. Thus, by loosening the rod the rail 60 is freed for slope adjustment. When in a desired position, the rod is tightened and this secures the adjustment.

For the purpose of holding work pieces flatly against the rail fiiLI have provided a pair of clamp rollers .lfl 'lfl carried at the outerends of arms '1 l--] l C, .pivotally mounted by pivot bolts l lZ-{Iiiextended .througha flange 13 that projects forwardly from the top edge of rail 69 as seen in Figs. 3 and 4. The pivot bolts are spaced in the longitudinal direction of the rail 60 and the arms H extend in opposite directions therefrom. Each arm H-ll' has an integral and relatively short lever arm 15 extended inwardly therefrom and coiled springs 76 are disposed under compression between the ends of the arms and a flange '58 on the top edge of rail, to urge the rollers toward the rail. Adjusting bolts 79 extend through the flange '33 through holes in the ends of the arms 15 and are equipped with adjusting nuts to limit the inward swing of the arms Il-li' and rollers Ill toward the rail Bi]. These bolts also mount the springs 16 as will be understood by reference to Fig. 4.

In using this special device, the guide rail 60 is first adjusted to the desired setting, which may be in vertical position as shown in Fig. l, or to any diagonal setting, for example as shown in Fig. 1. After this setting has been made it is secured by tightening the rod 62. Then the clamp rollers iii-m are set to a proper spacing from the rail to suit the work pieces to be fed to the saw. The work is then fed onto the rail 66 back of the rollers and may be advanced by hand until picked up by the main feed rolls presently to be described.

It is to be understood that the rail 69 may be set in vertical position if so desired and used in lieu of rail 5| for the guiding of work to the saw. However, for normal fiat work, the special guide is detached and removed from the machine. It is to also to be understood that one or more saws 14 of diiierent diameter might be used on the arbor. For example, it is practical to use a gang of thin saws, with fine keri for the cutting of bolts to form strips for window blinds or the like, or for cutting lath etc., as shown in Fig. 6.

The means which I have provided for the feeding of material through the machine for ripping by the saw or saws, is best shown in Figs. 2, 3, 5 and 8. The overhanging position of the arm 303: relative to the bed is seen in Fig. 5, and it is there noted that a pair of spaced lugs 8il80 extend downward from the arm 3dr, and mount a pivot shaft Bl therebetween. Pivotally mounted on the shaft 8! and extending in opposite direction therefrom are arms 8282' equipped at their outer ends with bearings 8383 in which mandrels 8 3 and 85 are rotatably mounted, parallel with each other and perpendicular to the vertical plane of the guide rail 5 1. Fixed on the mandrel 1 is a rather elongated feed roll 88. This maybe serrated as shown in Fig. 3, or it may be a rubber covered roller. It is provided centrally with an encircling flange 9i) aligned with saw 14 to follow in the saw kerf to prevent saw pinching by split material,

At the outer end of arm 85 is a toothed feed wheel 9|. In some instances more of these may be used on the same arbor.

At their inner ends the mandrels 8485 are equipped with driving sprocket wheels 94 and 85 over which chain belts 96 and 91 operate to drive the feed rollers. These belts operate over driving sprockets 98 and 99 on a drive shaft Hi0 extended from a gear reduction mechanism I02 mounted in arm 30 as shown in Figs. 2 and 5. The power for driving shaft It!!! comprises an electric motor 35 connected by belt N36 with the drive wheel ID! of the gear reduction mechanism that is designated generally by number I 02. The motor I is mounted on a platform .108 that is h ngedlymounted on the arm .39 by :a cross bolt tending through the same from side to side.

the bars I30-I30; each bar I30 having 7 wardly by coiled'springs I42.

r I I0, and the weight of the motor maintains tension on the belt.

In'order that the feed rolls will maintain a yieldable driving contact with work being fed through the machine, I provide a cross arm H2 in the forwardend portion of arm :0. The arm portion 30:10 is provided with an opening 30 ex- The cross ,arm is horizontally disposed and extends transversely of the arm 30x through the opening 30 therein to opposite sides of the same over the arms 82-82', and the cross arm is vertically adjustable on a guide rail II3 by means of a hand wheel II5 threaded onto a vertical shaft I I0 that extends upward from the cross arm and through the top wall of arm 30x. As shown inFig. 5, the cross arm I I2 has at one' side a part I I2 slidably engaging the guide rail I I3.

Interposed between the arms 82-82 and the outer ends of the cross arm are coiled springs I20, mounted under compression to urge the feed rolls against the work. The coiled springs'are mounted on bolts I2I that have their lower ends pivotally attached to the arms 82-82 andextend x at their upper ends through'openings inthe opposite end portions of cross arm 'I IZand are secured by adjusting nuts I25. By means of these bolts the distance to which the feed rolls may drop toward the table or bed is limited. The vertical adjustment of the cross arm is to take care of pieces of more or less thickness.

It is also desirable to provide hold down means for the work as shown in Fig. 3. For'this purpose I provide two wooden bars, I30I30', located at front and back sides of the saw I4. Each bar is supported in horizontal position to bear downwardly against the material being advanced past the saw. For the mounting .of these bars, I have fixed two rods I32-l32' in the outer end of the arm 30a: to extend directly outward A the lugs, and adapted to be held at any position of adjustment by a set screw I35,'is arod I36. At their lower ends the rods I38 are fixed to hori- 'zontal bars I38, which at their under sides, mount ing bolts I40 at its ends vertically slidable on the corresponding bar I38 and yieldingly urged down- The bolts I40 limit the downward movement of the bars I30. It will be'understood that the-press bars I30 I30 may be raised or lowered to accommodate pieces of work of various thicknesses and also they may be moved in or out to best accommodate .the saw orsaws being used.

To facilitate the feeding of material past the saws it is desirable that work supporting rolls as at I50, be mounted on the bed beneath the feed rolls 88 and 9|.

Also, to prevent kick back of work by the saws, I have provided a. series of fingers I85 that are pivoted on a stub shaft I86 fixed on arm 82'. These fingers ride on the work as advanced into the machine by feed wheel 9|.

Saws, chains and feed rolls may be protectively covered by housings or shields as shown in Fig. 1.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A ripping machine including a horizontally extending bed across which material is advanced for ripping, avertically disposed saw operable through the bed for the ripping of material advanced thereacross, a fixedly mounted rigid frame mounting thereof parallel with the plane of the saw and to opposite sides of the saw, arbors mounted in the outer-end portions of the arms parallel with the saw axis, feed rolls mounted on said arbors, respectively, to engage material as advanced to the saw and beyond it, means for driving the arbors to drive said feed rolls, a horizontal across arm extending transversely of said frame arm through the opening therein to opposite sides of the same over said feed roll mounting arms, said cross arm having a part at one side thereof slidably engaging said guide rail and cooperating therewith to support the cross arm for vertical adjustment of the same, bolts connecting the roll supporting arms with theouter end portions of said cross arm, the bolts at the lower ends of the same being pivoted to the feed roll supporting arms, and the upper end portions of the bolts being adjustably fixed to opposite end portions of said cross arm, coil springs on said bolts between the end'portions of the cross arm and the feed roll supporting arms to yieldably resist lifting of the feed rolls, and means on the frame arm connected with said cross arm intermediate the ends thereof for effecting vertical adjustment of the cross arm to determine the spacing of the feed rolls from the bed in actherefrom. Adjustable on each of these rods are cordance with the thickness of the material being ripped i 2. A ripping machine of the construction defined in claim 1 and in which the means for effecting vertical adjustment of the cross arm comprises a vertical threaded stem. connected at its lower end to the cross arm intermediate the ends supportthereof and extending upwardly through an opening in the frame arm to the upper side thereof, and a hand wheel threaded on the upper end portion of said stem.

' ORSON P. SMITH.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 261,645 Winter July 25, 1882 408,790 Butler Aug. 13, 1889 448,163 Paine Mar. 10, 1891 833,858 Thomas Oct. 23, 1906 899,143 Thomas et al Sept. 22, 1908 1,067,360 McSorley July 15, 1913 1,368,773 Voss et a1 Feb. 15, 1921 1,590,183 Crane June 29, 1926 1,735,240 Ennen Nov. 12, 1929 1,744,875 Edwards Jan. 28, 1930 1,748,906 Tardiff Feb. 25, 1930 1,789,125 Wilderson Jan. 13, 1931 2,064,607 Hirty Dec. 15, 1936 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 58,190 Sweden 1 Jan. 27, 1925 613,083 France Aug. 13, 1926 303,660 Great Britain Jan. 10, 1929 480,711 Germany Aug. 7, 1929 447,796 Great Britain May 26, 1936 

